Get the Most Out of a Desktop-Sized Mixer

Is it a tiny 8-channel mixer? A not-so-tiny 8-channel FireWire interface? To be honest, they're not sure what to call the Mackie Onyx 820i, besides "full-featured analog front end for your DAW." Judging by the 820i's clear, detailed Onyx microphone preamps and highly musical, British-style Perkins EQ, this little guy doesn't sacrifice any quality for its compact size. And with flexible routing options that integrate with any DAW, the Onyx 820i is ideal for building your home studio around. If you think the 820i seems pricey for a compact mixer, consider this: you could sink a lot of money into preamps, hardware EQs, A/D converters, a FireWire interface, and a monitor controller -- or you could plop the Mackie Onyx 820i on your desk, and call it done. (And at about the size of a legal-size sheet of paper, it fits on your desk.)

This video from Mackie explains the power of the Onyx-I series:

Analog Guts, Digital Brains

Even if the 820i didn't have a built-in 8-in/2-out FireWire interface, it would still be a serious analog mixer. First of all, it's a Mackie -- a company known for tank-like build quality. Mackie boards have long been indispensable in can't-fail environments like broadcast studios, live venues, and mobile recording rigs. Plus, the Onyx name means you're getting Mackie's flagship mic preamps -- 3 of them, in this case. Onyx mic pres are designed for accuracy, transparency, and detail, with phantom power available individually on each channel. The first two preamps have a dedicated switch for accepting a Hi-Z input like a direct guitar or bass. You also get 3 stereo channels for 1/4-inch line-level sources like keyboards and drum machines. And every channel has Mackie's "British-style" Perkins EQ, named for the veteran engineer who developed these natural-sounding filters. Because the 820i is a full-fledged analog mixer, it's an excellent real-time monitoring solution: just use its 2 aux sends to build headphone mixes in the analog domain with zero latency, regardless of what is going on in your DAW.

Send 8 Channels To Your DAW Over FireWire

The Onyx 820i really starts working its magic when you plug in a FireWire cable. Your 8 channels sail through high-end Cirrus A/D converters, through FireWire, and into your DAW at up to 24-bit, 96 kHz resolution. Each channel has a pre/post-EQ button for the FireWire output, so you can record your tracks with or without the channel inserts and Perkins EQ applied. For example, if your bassist needs lots of low-end punch in his headphones during tracking, you can kick on his EQ, but press his channel's "pre" button so only the clean, un-EQ'd signal is sent out through FireWire and into your DAW. Or you can insert your trusty hardware reverb for the vocal channel for monitoring, but still record the vocal track "dry." However you set up the routing, FireWire is fully integrated into the Onyx 820i -- so external interfaces or converters are completely unnecessary.

Plays Nice With Your Rack Gear -- And Your Plug-ins

Got outboard gear? With 1/4-inch insert plugs on the first 2 channels, you can easily insert your favorite hardware compressor on that bass track. And with 2 aux buses, there's even room to feed your hardware reverb on from an aux send, and return the resulting signal to one of your 3 stereo channels. Now, if you're of more of a plug-ins power user, that's where the 820i's FireWire integration comes in handy. For example, say you're multitracking a vocal group with the 3 Onyx preamp channels, with everyone's headphones running off Aux 1. Aux 2 appears in your DAW via FireWire, ready to be processed in real time by your reverb plug-in. Set the plug-in's output to FireWire, and press the FireWire input button on the 820i's last stereo channel. Now you're mixing the "wet," reverbed signal on a hardware gain pot, and tweaking real knobs to adjust exactly how much the reverb is affecting each vocal mic. It beats trying to mouse pictures of knobs on your computer screen!

With the robustness of a Mackie analog mixer, plus complete FireWire integration, the Onyx 820i packs a whole lot of power into a decidedly desk-friendly footprint. You get 3 great-sounding preamps, 3 flexible stereo inputs, Perkins EQ, and a built-in 8x2 FireWire interface for your home recording setup. Any audio interface can get sound in and out of your computer, but the 820i's extensive routing capabilities make it endlessly flexible -- and real analog hardware never goes out of style.

The following computer systems have been qualified by the Mackie test department for use with all major DAW's including pro tools(r) m-powered(tm) 8. This list does not represent the only systems that will function faultlessly and is intended to be a guide, however we cannot guarantee or support problem free system setup outside of these qualified systems.

Register your Onyx-i mixer with Mackie and you will be given Instructions for the Mackie Universal Driver and Mackie Authorization Application that unlocks your mixer for use with Pro Tools M-Powered 8. The driver purchase allows your registered mixer to work with as many supported computers running Pro Tools M-Powered 8 as you have access to.

Our 30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies to the Mackie Onyx Mixer. Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

M-Audio Pro Tools M-Powered Recording Software cannot be returned once opened due to copyright law.

Mackie Onyx 820i 8-Channel Mixer

The ultra-compact Mackie Onyx 820i FireWire Recording Mixer combines the benefits of a powerful computer interface with the tactile, hands-on control of a sleek, space-saving premium analog mixer. Proven, professional features like three Onyx mic preamps and classic Perkins EQ only accentuate the mixer's ample connectivity and clear-cut workflow.

The 820i allows you to send channels, aux sends or master L/R signals discretely to your Mac or PC for recording. Compatible out of the box with most major DAWs, and qualified for use with Pro Tools(r) M-Powered(tm) 8 via downloadable driver upgrade at Mackie's website. It's a premium analog mixer that integrates seamlessly with your favorite DAW.

Recording and Mixing

Send all channels, aux sends or the master L/R straight to your computer for recording. Pre/post EQ taps on every channel allow you to integrate the renowned Perkins EQ into the record path. Plus, returns from your DAW are assignable to the control room section or straight back into a channel for mix integration.

Powerful Effects Engine

With all aux sends routable to your DAW, Onyx-i allows you to use your favorite plug-in as a realtime effect. Just route an aux send to your DAW, apply the plug-in and assign your DAW outputs to the control room or to a channel strip for instant integration into the mix.

Live Recording

Live sound recording could not be simpler with Onyx-i. The ability to record individual channels either wet or dry allows for studio quality multitrack recordings for later editing and mixdown. Or simply record the main mix, allowing for immediate creation of CDs right at the gig.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

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